Cafe Bostwick — Restaurant in Tacoma

I don’t do a ton of these reviews, but we absolutely need to talk about Cremello Café because it’s new, it’s fantastic, and Downtown Tacoma deserves this place.

Cremello Café is like a first-class ticket to Italy, on a steamship, in 1917.

Friendly, personal service mixed with exceptional quality of nearly everything.

It’s the little things. You enter to soft piano music on the speakers, a blast of cool air. Your food and drinks will be brought to your table with a smile and a flourish, on high-quality porcelain plates and mugs – it’s fun and warm, not standoffish or snobby.

Dairy from Smith, baked goods from Macrina (yum). I mentioned to the owner that I enjoyed a specific Macrina pastry I’d had up North, and, wouldn’t you know it, they had them in the case on my next visit. Wow.

Coffee is from Café d’Arte, which is fine.

The tables are the same, but now topped by cut-glass bottles with fresh flowers. Actual candles, at times. Other fun art and décor objects added, including a vintage saddle, naturally.

It’s very much appreciated to see the owners having selected the pieces they are using with vision and purpose, rather than picking whatever is cheapest at cash and carry.

I’ve lived very close to the Bostwick building for a while now, I’ve visited this café since when it was Tully’s, then through several other short-lived iterations. This is different.

Final note that says a lot: This is the first time I’ve ever seen the restroom be unlocked, and I’ve watched the owners treat guests from all walk of life with decency and respect.

Tldr; please give Cremello a visit and give them some business, because I very much would like them to...

Update: The cafe is under new ownership! I thought I'd give the new owners a try and I was pleasantly surprised. I was greeted with big smiles. They were very welcoming. I ordered a turkey pesto sandwich that they made for me. It was not pre packaged and it was good.I didn't try the coffee but I will next time. They have a display of small indoor plants and I couldn't resist purchasing one for home. The opened the door for me on my way out, just really nice ppl. I'm always excited to support local businesses!

First I must say the space itself is beautiful and all the hard work the original staff put in was well worth it. I love the new look! This is why I gave it 2 stars, however this is a coffee shop and if the coffee's good it wouldn't matter what the space looks like as long as it's clean. The coffee is not so good. It's weak and dull. Me and my co workers frequented Tully's weekly. We also enjoy other local coffee spots but this one is by far not worth returning. We came on 3 different occasions hoping they worked out the tweaks but the coffee was the same each visit. I haven't returned since. Very...

Imagine walking into your dream local coffee shop on a rainy and cold morning. It's early, but the shop has a welcoming and friendly staff, the mesmerizing fragrance of the beans and the delicatessen, a wide choice that only a coffee fan can appreciate. All of this against a backdrop of the classic coffee connoisseur's store etiquette!

Well, you don't have to imagine such a store. Ladies and gentlemen, Cremello is just such a store that comes alive every day in Tacoma's unforgettable downtown. Whether you are a visitor or a regular (in which case you don't need this review; you'll just walk into this store), you can never go wrong with Cremello.

We visited this store on 15 February, a signature cold Seattle-area Saturday. And we were delighted so much that the taste of the coffee we were served still lingers in my mouth as much as its milieu lingers in my memory. Rebecca and her colleague welcomed us with genial ease and made us comfortable as we savored our coffee. The feelings of warmth that engulfed me in those 30 minutes of tranquility are ineffable.

I recommend this...